| Livin' Lovin' Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers - Various Artists | |
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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
In the past few years there have been quite a few "Tribute" CDs available to purchase. In 2003 alone there have been a couple dedicated to Waylon Jennings, one for Dolly Parton and one for Pasty Cline. Now comes a long-overdue one for the Louvin Brothers. The Louvin Brothers, Ira and Charlie, began performing and writing songs in the 1940s. They were signed to Capitol Records as an "inspirational act" and were kept in that genre until they begged Capitol for one chance at a secular song. That song, "When I Stop Dreaming" became a Top 5 country music hit and thus their career as country stars was born. While they only lasted as a duo for 8 more years, Charlie and Ira split over Ira's partying ways, Charlie went on to a successful solo career. Sadly Ira died in a car crash in 1965.
The Idea for Livin' Lovin' Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers came when Kathy Louvin, Ira's daughter, called up producer/singer/writer Carl Jackson and asked him if he wanted to do it. Jackson immediately said yes and called some of his friends. Containing 15 Louvin classics, the CD is destined to be known as one of the best "tribute" CD's ever recorded. Each performance ("duets" by 30 different acts including Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Rodney Crowell, Glen Campbell, Joe Nichols, Rhonda Vincent, Dierks Bentley and Kathy Louvin herself) is close to the original and retains the traditional country sound that these songs demand to have. No "poptry" or rock n roll, the CD is pure unadulterated country music the way it was meant to be played.
"Cash On The Barrelhead" is the first track on this Universal South release and it features Joe Nichols with Rhonda Vincent contributing Ira's high harmony vocal part. It tells a tale of a "traveling' man" who is told that he has to pay cash or face the barrelhead of a gun. Joe's voice is in fine form and when mixed with Rhonda's elegant vocals, this song sounds like it could be off of Joe's fine Man With A Memory CD. The instrumentation’s given some great solo performances as well.
James Taylor is the only "rock" act to grace this tribute and he partners with Alison Krauss on "How's The World Treating You." A somber ballad about a break-up, there's a tension here not found on many current country songs and as such the performance is nuanced and bitter. Taylor and Krauss blend their voices well which makes this song stand out.
Vince Gill and Terri Clark do a faithful version of "I Can't Keep You In Love With Me." Sure it's a tad modern in the sense that it'd fit on any Gill record (Especially The Key from 1998) but the fact that Gill and Clark sound good together keeps this lyrically forlorn track among the better cuts of the album.
Merle Haggard has never sung a bad song so the teaming of him with producer Carl Jackson could be nothing but genius. The duo sing "Must You Throw Dirt in My Face," a great country song that should be a hit again because the lyric of seeing the ex with another man still resonates today.
The shocker of the whole CD is the partnership of Ronnie Dunn (of Brooks and Dunn) with Rebecca Lynn Howard. They sing "If I Could Only Win Your Love." Rebecca Lynn is respected for her powerful Kentucky voice. However, she hasn't really released anything but pop tinged singles and thus hasn't achieved success yet. This duet shows her real calling, as a traditional country singer, with Ronnie, who could always sing traditional ballads with the best of the men.
Kathy Louvin is a songwriter with hit songs to her credit (like Confederate Railroad's "Queen Of Memphis") and she teams up with fellow songwriter Pamela Brown Hayes ("I Can Love You Better" by the Dixie Chicks) for a wonderful rendition of "I Wish You Knew." The song sounds very good and makes me wonder why these women don't have their own recording contract. They have rich vocals that blend together well.
Patty Loveless first teamed with Jon Randall for her fine 2001 CD Mountain Soul. For those who don't know, Randall is a fine guitar player with a beautiful tenor voice not unlike Vince Gill. Together they sound lovely on "Are You Teasing Me," a song about a couple that is very playful with each other yet always wonder if they're with others when apart.
Dierks Bentley had to "fight" to get on this CD. He recorded the Louvin Brothers' first number one hit, "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby" with hit songwriter and friend Harley Allen ("The Little Girl," "The Baby"). Bentley's baritone, mixed with the high harmony of Allen's tenor voice makes the song a wonderful addition to this CD, one that the label knew would be perfect for it once they heard it.
Very few female vocalists have a voice that rivals Dolly Parton's. Sonya Isaacs is one who possesses such a voice and she is teamed with Dolly on the beautiful gospel song "The Angels Rejoiced." Together, they sound like a pair of soul sisters singing in their church. It's a great song that should be heard.
"Keep Your Eyes On Jesus" is another gospel song and it is a special track. It features Pam Tillis singing the verses of the song with the Jordanaires reprising their harmonies from the original Louvin version. The late Johnny Cash is also on this song, reprising Ira's spoken bible verse. Always a powerful speaker, you can hear his emotional reading of the verse. This recording is one of the last one's Johnny ever did and I am glad to have heard it.
When you add all the songs together, they are tastefully well-done and the CD, Livin' Lovin' Losin" Songs Of The Louvin Brothers is one of the best to be released in the new decade. This CD won't be for everyone but those who love traditional country music will savor the special recordings here for they truly are some of the finest tributes I've ever heard.
Song List:
Album cover used with permission of Universal South
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